Twenty years on from his own time in a Penrith jersey, Dave Elvy is backing the "exciting" current crop of Panthers to claim NRL glory on the weekend.
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Elvy played 17 games for Penrith between 1998 and 1999, before he landed at the Bathurst Panthers in Group 10.
Bathurst is where he remains now as an NRL Game Development Officer, having seen a host of Western juniors make the move from the region to the foot of the mountains.
Western juniors have played a big part for the Panthers in 2020 and Dubbo's Isaah Yeo and Wellington junior Brent Naden have again been named to start on Sunday night.
The Panthers head into this weekend's grand final against the Melbourne Storm on a 17-game unbeaten run and Elvy has no doubt they have what it takes to claim to premiership.
"They've been really impressive. I think this has been building at the club for the past few years," he said of Penrith's performances this season.
"I think people expected the Panthers to be there or thereabouts and they've definitely shown that this year, with their youth and exciting style they're playing. They deserve to be there.
"I've got to tip Panthers but they're going to have be at their best against the Storm and everyone knows how good the Storm can be.
"But if someone like Penrith can unsettle them, get away to a reasonable start, hang in the game and the nerves disappear, I think they're a fair chance."
Sunday's grand final kicks off at 7.30pm.
